documentation

Parkland College Eligibility Policies and Procedures comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Documents providing evidence of disability must be presented to Accessibility

Services and a confidential file established before academic accommodations may be approved and implemented. Reasonable accommodations are determined based on the current impact of the disability on academic performance.

The College reserves the right to modify documentation requirements to be consistent with current best practices in higher education. In general, our office strives to align with the principles and recommendations of the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the leading organization for postsecondary disability service providers.

Eligibility for accommodations at Parkland College is determined when students enroll and present their requests to Accessibility Services. Even if students have been granted accommodations at the high school or elementary school level, or at another college or university, their documentation must be evaluated for current college-level needs. A school plan such as a summary of performance plan, individualized education plan (IEP), neuropsychological, or 504 plan will be given every consideration.

The Director of Counseling Services reserves the right to amend documentation requirements as appropriate on a case-by-case basis.

Temporary Impairments Students with temporary impairments such as recovery from surgery or other injuries are not covered under Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is no legal requirement to provide classroom accommodations in these situations. However, students with temporary impairments are encouraged to contact us for evaluation for possible services that may allow the student to remain enrolled. These students will be asked to provide verification of their illness/injury and its impact on their ability to function in the college environment.

Provisional Accommodations Provisional accommodations can be authorized when a student has a prior record of a disability but needs additional time to provide our office with updated disability documentation. Any such accommodations are courtesy arrangements, evaluated on a case-by-case basis for no more than one semester. The college is under no obligation to continue these accommodations if documentation standards are not met. Furthermore, the college is not obligated to continue any informal accommodations arranged/permitted by faculty without the approval of our office. Confidentiality Parkland College considers disability documentation confidential information that does not become part of a student’s academic transcript. Disability documentation is released only in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and Parkland College policies and procedures.